It Is Not Death to Die
It is not death to die
It Is Not Death to Die is a hymn text by Henry Harbaugh (1860) in C.M. meter. Found in lw 359, tlh 602. Sung to BOYLSTON.
The hymn expresses Lutheran confidence in Christ's victory over death and the promise of resurrection through faith in Him. It grounds Christian assurance in Scripture and the finished work of Christ rather than in human merit.
History & Background
Written by Henry Harbaugh, a German Reformed pastor in Pennsylvania, this hymn was first published in 1860. It became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals and remains a standard funeral and Easter hymn.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 359
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 602
Bulletin Note
Written by Henry Harbaugh (1817–1867), a Lutheran pastor and educator in Pennsylvania. This hymn voices the Reformation's recovered confidence: our resurrection rests not on our merit, but on Christ's finished work.
Preaching Connection
This hymn powerfully proclaims the Gospel reversal—what the Law names as death's dominion, Christ's resurrection unmasks as a doorway to eternal life with God.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From the blessing of Christian unity in love (1), through shared prayer and common purpose (2), to mutual suffering and support (3), culminating in hope beyond separation (4)
Overview
A French Reformed hymn by César Malan of Geneva, translated by the American Dutch Reformed pastor George Bethune. Each stanza says what death really is for the believer: going home to God and the brotherhood above (st. 1), closing tear-dimmed eyes to wake in glory (st. 2), release from a dungeon into boundless liberty (st. 3), and throwing off sinful dust to rise among the just (st. 4). The last stanza addresses Christ: 'Thy chosen cannot die' (st. 5).
Central theme: For the believer death is not death but homecoming, release and resurrection, because Christ the Prince of life holds his chosen
Structure
Five short-meter quatrains (6.6.8.6). The anaphora 'It is not death to…' (1-4); Christ the Prince of life (5).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law implied: 'weary road'; 'tears'; 'dungeon chain'; 'sinful dust' (1-4). Gospel: 'at home with God'; 'glorious repose'; 'boundless liberty'; 'Thy chosen cannot die' (1-3, 5).
Confessional Connections
John 11:26 (TLH's text): 'Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.' The refrain 'It is not death' is meant in the sense of eternal death: believers still die bodily, but death has lost its character as judgment (Heb 2:14-15; AC XVII). St. 3: 'boundless liberty', the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Rom 8:21). St. 4: 'this sinful dust' does not despise the body as such; the body is sown in dishonor and raised in glory (1 Cor 15:42-44). St. 5: 'Thy chosen cannot die', election in Christ as comfort and not speculation (FC XI), and 'Prince of life' (Acts 3:15).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Funerals; Easter; All Saints.
Historical Notes
Malan (1787-1864), Genevan Reformed pastor and leader of the Réveil, wrote some 1,000 hymns. Bethune (1805-1862), Dutch Reformed pastor in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, published his translation in 1847.
About the Tune
TENBURY (Frederick A. G. Ouseley, 1861).
Scripture References
John 11:25-26 2 Cor 5:8 Heb 12:22-23 Rev 21:4 Rev 14:13 Rom 8:21 Ps 142:7 Gen 3:19 1 Cor 15:42-44 Isa 40:31 Acts 3:15 John 10:28 Rom 8:37 2 Tim 2:12 Rev 3:21
Stanza by Stanza
It is not death to die, to leave this weary road and be at home with God among the brotherhood on high.
'Away from the body and at home with the Lord' (2 Cor 5:8). 'To the assembly of the firstborn… and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect' (Heb 12:23).
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 5:8, Heb 12:22-23
- Imagery & language
- Not death; weary road; brotherhood on high; home with God.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: death as homecoming.
- Connection to previous
- Home with God.
It is not death to close an eye long dimmed by tears and wake in glorious rest to spend eternal years.
'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes' (Rev 21:4). 'They may rest from their labors' (Rev 14:13).
- Scripture
- Rev 21:4, Rev 14:13
- Imagery & language
- Tear-dimmed eye; glorious repose; eternal years.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: tears ended.
- Connection to previous
- Tears ended.
It is not death to bear the wrench that frees us from the dungeon's chain, to breathe the air of boundless liberty.
'Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name!' (Ps 142:7). 'The creation itself will be set free… into the freedom of the glory of the children of God' (Rom 8:21).
- Scripture
- Ps 142:7, Rom 8:21
- Imagery & language
- Wrench; dungeon chain; free air; boundless liberty.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: release.
- Connection to previous
- Set free.
It is not death to throw aside this sinful dust and rise on strong, exulting wings to live among the righteous.
'You are dust, and to dust you shall return' (Gen 3:19). 'Sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory' (1 Cor 15:43). 'They shall mount up with wings like eagles' (Isa 40:31).
- Scripture
- Gen 3:19, 1 Cor 15:42-44, Isa 40:31
- Imagery & language
- Sinful dust flung aside; exulting wing; among the just.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: rising in glory.
- Connection to previous
- Exulting wing.
Jesus, Prince of life, your chosen ones cannot die; like you, they conquer in the struggle and reign with you on high.
'You killed the Author [Prince] of life, whom God raised from the dead' (Acts 3:15). 'They will never perish' (John 10:28). 'More than conquerors' (Rom 8:37). 'If we endure, we will also reign with him' (2 Tim 2:12). FC XI.
- Scripture
- Acts 3:15, John 10:28, Rom 8:37, 2 Tim 2:12, Rev 3:21
- Imagery & language
- Prince of life; chosen cannot die; conquer; reign.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: election and victory in Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Prince of life.
Themes
death and resurrection eternal life faith in Christ comfort in mortality